720 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 
¢ 30. C. caARoLiniA‘NA Miche. The Carolina Bird Cherry Tree. 
Identification. Michx. FI. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 285.; Lois. in N. Du Ham., 5, p 5.; Don’s Mill., 2. 
eh Prinus caroliniana Ait. Hort. Kew., 2. p. 163. ; P. sempervirens Willd. Enum. ; Padus 
earoliniana Mill. Dict., No. 6.; Wild Orange, Amer. 
Engravings. Michx. Arb, d’Ameér., 3. t. 7.; and our fig. 423. 
Spec. Char., &c. Evergreen. Leaves, with the petiole short; and the disk 
lanceolate-oblong, mucronate, even, rather coriaceous, mostly entire. 
Flowers densely disposed in axillary racemes, that are shorter than the 
leaves. Fruit nearly globose, mucronate. (Dec. Prod., ii. p.540.) An 
evergreen tree, of the middle size, a native of North America, from Caro- 
lina to Florida; introduced in 1759, and forming rather a tender evergreen 
shrub in British gardens. 
Description, §c. In its native country, this 423 
tree, according to Michaux, grows to the 
height of 20 ft. or 30ft., and ramifies at a 
short distance from the ground, forming a 
tufted head. The bark of the trunk is of a 
dun colour, and is commonly without cracks. 
The leaves are smooth, shining on their upper 
surfaces, and about 3in. long. The flowers, 
which open in May, are white and numerous, 
being arranged in little bunches 1 in. or 14 in. 
long, which spring from the axil of the leaf. 
The fruit is small, oval, and nearly black : 
it consists of a soft stone, surrounded by a 
small quantity of green pulpy substance, 
which is not eatable. The fruit hangs on 
during the greater part of the following year, 
so that the tree is at the same time laden 
with fruit and flowers. These flowers, Mi- 
chaux remarks, are, of all others which he 
has observed in Carolina and Georgia, the 
most sought after by bees. The tree, he 
adds, may be considered as one of the most 
beautiful vegetable productions of the south- 
ern parts of the United States ; and it is generally selected by the inhabitants 
to plant near their houses, not only on this account, but because it grows 
with rapidity, and affords an impenetrable shade. Pursh describes it as a 
handsome evergreen shrub, resembling C. lusitanica; but he says nothing of 
the flowers, which, from the figure in Michaux, from which ours was copied, 
appear to be almost without petals. 
Geography, History, §c. This tree is found in the Bahama Islands; and 
in North America it appears to be confined to the islands which are on the 
coast of the two Carolinas, Georgia, and the two Floridas. On the mainland 
it is seldom found growing wild, even at 8 or 10 miles’ distance from the sea. 
It was first made known to Europeans by Catesby; and the seeds were sent 
to Miller in 1759, under the name of bastard mahogany. Seeds of it are 
frequently imported from America, and abundance of young plants reared ; 
but, as they are rather tender, and, north of London, would require the pro- 
tection of a wall, they are very seldom seen in British gardens. The largest 
lant which we know of is in Hampshire, at Swallowfield, where, in 1833, 
it formed a bush 10ft. high, with a head about 12 ft. in diameter, flowering 
and fruiting occasionally. 
Properties and Uses. The wood is rose-coloured, and of a very fine grain ; 
but, even in America, it is too scarce to be applied to useful purposes; the 
tree being there, as here, considered entirely as one of ornament. The bark 
of the roots smells strongly of prussic acid; and from it, Michaux observes, 
a fragrant spirituous liquor may be obtained. 

